Bell, 48, a six-year veteran, served with Engine 16 at 636 Blue Hills Ave. Martinez, who has been a firefighter since 2007, is assigned to Tactical Unit 1 at 275 Pearl St.

Martinez, 29, of Manchester, suffered burns over 10 percent of his body and was transferred by helicopter to the burn unit at Bridgeport Hospital, where he remained in critical but stable condition Wednesday.

Two more firefighters were treated and released at St. Francis Hospital and Medical Center Tuesday night. They are Colin McWeeny, 34, of Engine 14 at 25 Blues Hills Ave., and Kevin Burke, 51, of Engine 5 at 129 Sigourney St. Both live in Hartford.

Bell worked as a school security officer before his appointment to the fire department six years ago, said his brother, Shawn Bell.

Kevin Bell loved his job and loved the training, Shawn Bell said. He dreamed of rising through the ranks just like his cousin, retired Chief Charles Teale.

"He studied hard and he always came home and talked about what specific training he had that particular day," Shawn Bell said. "He was elated at the fact he was going to become a fireman. He talked about becoming a chief. He said he could handle this. And that's what he was doing. He loved his job."

Bell's father, Manuel Gomes, said that Teale, who is his cousin, showed Bell how to apply to the academy, but left the rest to him.

"He saw how Charlie came up through the ranks and made chief. I would always see him talking to Charlie," said Gomes. "[Teale] mentored him, but everything Kevin did he did for himself. I was very proud of him."

A Hartford firefighter died last night in a house fire on Blue Hills Ave. Three other firefighters were injured

A Hartford firefighter died last night in a house fire on Blue Hills Ave. Three other firefighters were injured

Fire Chief Carlos M. Huertas described Bell as effervescent, vivacious and with a great sense of humor.

"We put our lives on the line every single day," Huertas said. "All the men and women of this department do it every single day. Firefighter Bell represents and embodies the best in all of us. He made the ultimate sacrifice without hesitation or reservation."

Bell's survivors include his wife, Wayatte Statham-Bell, and a daughter, Racquel.

Hartford Mayor Pedro Segarra said that he and Huertas went to Bridgeport on Tuesday night to visit Martinez and his family. The firefighter's family is holding together, Segarra said, but expressed great concern about Bell's family.

An autopsy was performed Wednesday on Bell at the Office of the Chief Medical Examiner, but determining the cause of his death will require further study, a spokesperson said.

Huertas declined to comment on what happened Tuesday night at 598 Blue Hills Ave. He said he wanted the investigation to run its course, and then would release the results.

According to an email to members of the Hartford firefighters' union from union President Vincent Fusco, "Firefighter Bell was advancing an attack line in efforts to extinguish a working fire at 598 Blue Hills Ave. when he suffered critical injuries and was removed from the building in cardiac arrest. All efforts were made to revive Brother Bell, but unfortunately these efforts were unsuccessful."

Martinez was searching the second floor of the home, Fusco wrote, "when fire conditions forced him to bail out of a second floor window."

The fire was reported about 6:30 p.m. The people who lived in the multifamily home escaped without injury. The American Red Cross was assisting them.

On Tuesday night, the fire department ordered all firehouses to lower flags to half-staff. Gov. Dannel P. Malloy on Wednesday ordered all state flags to half-staff to honor Bell.

Gomes said Wednesday that Bell's lifelong passion was music and that he produced music and also worked as a disc jockey at parties and events around town.

"Firefighting was his vocation but music was his passion," Gomes said, adding that he talked to his son about the dangers of the job.

"I said I'm glad you got the opportunity, but be careful," Gomes said. "And he said, 'They trained us great, I'm very careful.' This is a tragic, tragic accident."

"His dream was to become an NFL running back," Shawn Bell said. "He was very athletic. He was fast. He ran track. He played football. Sports was his first love. But when you become an adult and it's time to start taking care of your family, you've got to pursue a career that will help you raise your family in a comfortable way and that's what he did."

Shawn Bell described his brother as a man who had unwavering love for his daughter.

"He was one of those fathers we need in this community," Shawn Bell said.

Bell's cousin, Ed Martin, said that Bell played several musical instruments, managed bands and even put out a few albums.

"He was always a person who wanted to learn and get better," Martin said. "He could go outside and hear the wind or hear birds and make music out of that."

Myron Moye, 48, said that he met Bell on their first day of kindergarten and that they had been friends ever since. He called his friend a legend in the Hartford music scene and said their group, the Busy Boys, was a pioneer in Hartford-area hip hop and rap in the early 1980s. The group had just finished an album and was preparing to release it, he said.

Earl Calloway, another friend and music collaborator, said that music was Bell's passion.

"I still can't believe it," Calloway said of Bell's death. "A lot of people loved him and I know a lot of people still can't believe it." He called Bell "one of the greatest beat makers that I know."

Bell was the first Hartford firefighter to die battling a fire in 40 years. Firefighter Thomas Fischer was killed on Sept. 15, 1974, battling a blaze on Park Street.